Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02498140 2008-07-04
ORTHODONTIC APPLIANCE
This application claims the benefit of U.S.
Provisional Application Serial No.: 60/412,507, filed
September 20, 2002..
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a dental appliance
having increased thickness between an upper shell and a
lower shell and a system and a method for treating
malocclusions. More specifically, the present invention
relates to a dental appliance which may have an upper
shell and a lower shell which may be hingedly attached.
The upper shell and the lower shell, as well as the
hinge, may have an increased thickness in comparison to
known dental appliances. As a result, the dental
appliance may be used to treat malocclusions such as, for
example, overjet or overbite. It is generally known to
provide dental care to a patient. Typically, the patient
visits, for example, a dentist or other type of care
provider at the office of the care provider. The
dentist, upon examination of the patient, may provide the
patient with a dental appliance to treat the condition of
the patient. For example, a patient may have an overbite
which may require a dental appliance to be placed within
the mouth of the patient.
The examination may determine a size or a shape of
an upper shell and a lower shell of a dental appliance
which may be provided to the patient. The upper shell
and the lower shell receive upper teeth and lower teeth,
respectively, of the patient. The upper shell and the
lower shell are worn within the mouth of the patient to
treat the dental condition. In some cases, the upper
shell and the lower shell are connected by a hinge at an
end of the dental appliance. The hinge is positioned
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towards a rear of the mouth of the user when the dental
appliance is worn. The hinge prevents the dental
appliance from slipping from the mouth of the user.
However, a number of deficiencies exist with dental
appliances both when utilizing a hinge and when the upper
shell and the lower shell are permanently fixed to each
other. For example, a jaw of an individual opens and
closes in a manner similar to a hinge. As a result, a
dental appliance utilizing a hinge which fixes an upper
shell and a lower shell may require a significant
reduction in material at a rearward portion of the dental
appliance. Specifically, a dental appliance narrows
vertically near a portion which receives a first
permanent molar and a second permanent molar. -Material
at the rearward portion of the dental appliance is often
weak and may not proceed far enough rearward to
completely cover the last tooth and to provide sufficient
support bucco-lingually, or from an inside wall of the
dental appliance to an outside wall.
To remedy the weakness of the material at the
rearward portion, extra material is added to a distal
portion of an isthmus of the dental appliance and/or at
the hinge area; specifically, at an end of the dental
"appliance where the upper shell and the lower shell are
fixed to the hinge, which is closest to the rear of the
mouth when worn. However, the extra material often
interferes with a free maximum eruption of a rearmost
molar and prevents the molar from erupting and often does
not cover the last molar completely. As a result, an
overbite, for example, of a patient, may collapse or
revert to a previous stage or may have difficulty in
fully correcting in the first place.
A need, therefore, exists for a dental appliance and
a system and a method for treating malocclusions wherein
an upper shell and a lower shell may be sized to extend
treatment of the malocclusion to the rear teeth of the
user.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a dental appliance
having increased thickness between an upper shell and a
lower shell and a system and a method for treating
malocclusions. The dental appliance may have an upper
shell and a lower shell which may receive upper and lower
teeth, respectively, of a user. The upper shell and the
lower shell may be connected in any way to enable the
upper shell and the lower shell to be separate while
maintaining contact. In addition, the upper shell and
the lower shell may have a thickness between them which
may be greater than a thickness demonstrated in known
dental appliances. Moreover, the means by which the
upper shell and the lower shell are connected may require
an increase in a vertical thickness which may be greater
than a thickness demonstrated in known dental appliances.
The increased thickness between the upper shell and
the lower shell, as well as the increased thickness of
the rearward portion, may enable the dental appliance to
be positioned further into the mouth of the user. The
dental appliance may then treat molars at a rear of the
mouth of the user. In addition, the increased thickness
between the upper shell and the lower shell may stimulate
muscles within the mouth of the user when the user places
the dental appliance within the mouth. The hinge, or
other means of connecting the upper shell and the lower
shell of the dental appliance, may allow the entire
dental appliance to be resilient due to the increased
thickness of the rear portion. As a result, the means
for connecting the upper shell and the lower shell may
restrict adverse lateral movement of a jaw of the user.
To this end, in an embodiment of the present
invention, a dental appliance is provided which is worn
in a mouth of a user having one or more types of teeth
wherein one of the types of teeth is molars wherein the
molars are located furthest rearward into the mouth of
the user. The dental appliance has a generally U-shaped
base having an occlusal surface wherein the occlusal
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surface contacts the teeth when the base is worn wherein
the base has a thickness defined between a first end and
a second end wherein the occlusal surface contacts each
molar of the user when the base is worn to prevent the
molar from achieving a malocclusion position.
In an embodiment, the dental appliance has a hinge
connected to the base wherein the hinge enables the base
to be folded.
In an embodiment, the base is translucent.
In an embodiment, the occlusal surface is flat.
In an embodiment, the dental appliance has hooks
extending from the base.
In an embodiment, the dental appliance has a wire
imbedded within the base.
In an embodiment, the base is constructed from a
first material and a second material wherein the first
material has a lesser degree of rigidity than the second
material.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a
dental appliance is provided which is worn in a mouth of
a user having an upper arch having upper teeth and a
lower arch having lower teeth and a tongue. The dental
appliance has a generally U-shaped upper base which
contacts upper teeth of the user when the upper base is
worn. The dental appliance also has a generally U-shaped
lower base adjacent to the upper base wherein the lower
base contacts lower teeth of the user when the lower base
is worn wherein the upper base and the lower base define
an interior surface having a concave portion wherein the
concave portion has a wall which prevents the tongue of
the user from contacting the lower arch when the tongue
is in a resting position.
In an embodiment, the dental appliance has holes
within the base wherein the user breathes through the
holes.
In an embodiment, the dental appliance has lingual.
tabs extending from the lower base wherein the lingual
tabs extend rearward into the mouth.
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In an embodiment, the dental appliance has one or
more sockets within the upper base wherein the sockets
are sized to fit at least two or more teeth of the user.
In an embodiment, the dental appliance has ribs
formed within the upper base wherein the ribs guide the
teeth into a correct position.
In an embodiment, the upper base is constructed from
a moisture-absorbent material.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a
dental appliance is provided which is worn in a mouth of
a user having upper teeth and lower teeth wherein the
upper teeth and the lower teeth are comprised of one or
more types of teeth wherein one of the types of teeth is
molars wherein the molars are located furthest rearward
into the mouth of the user. The dental appliance has a
generally U-shaped upper base having an upper occlusal
surface wherein the upper occlusal surface contacts the
upper teeth and guides the upper teeth into a correct
position. The dental appliance also has a generally U-
shaped lower base connected to the upper base wherein the
lower base has a lower occlusal surface wherein the lower
occlusal surface contacts the lower teeth and guides the
lower teeth into a correct position and wherein the upper
occlusal surface and the lower occlusal surface are
adjacent and have a combined thickness wherein the upper
occlusal surface contacts each molar of the user when the
upper base and the lower base , are worn to prevent the
molar from achieving a malocclusion position.
In an embodiment, the dental appliance has sockets
within the upper base wherein the sockets are square in
shape.
In an embodiment, the upper base is marked to
indicate to the user how to position the upper base
within the mouth.
In an embodiment, a hinge connecting the upper base
and the lower base wherein the hinge allows the upper
base to be pivoted toward the lower base.
In an embodiment, the lower base is wider than the
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upper base.
In an embodiment, the dental appliance has a shield extending
from the upper base wherein the shield contacts a front of the mouth.
In an embodiment, the dental appliance has sockets within the
upper base wherein the sockets are customized to a shape of the teeth
of the user.
In summary, a first aspect of the invention provides for a
dental appliance designed to be worn in a mouth of a user wherein the
user has one or more types of teeth wherein one of the types of teeth
is molars wherein a last molar is located furthest rearward into the
mouth of the user, the dental appliance comprising:
a generally U-shaped base having a top portion and a bottom
portion wherein the generally U-shaped base has an occlusal surface
wherein the occlusal surface contacts the teeth when the base is worn
wherein the base has a thickness defined between a first end and a
second end wherein the occlusal surface contacts each of the molars
of the user when the base is worn to prevent the molar from achieving
a malocclusion position wherein a socket is formed in the generally
U-shaped base wherein the last molar is inserted into the socket and
further wherein the first end and the second end extend beyond the
last molar to a point further rearward into the mouth of the user than
the last molar; and
a hinge connecting the top portion to the bottom portion wherein
the hinge has an upper plate that inserts into a top aperture in the
top portion wherein the hinge has a lower plate that inserts into a
bottom aperture in the bottom portion wherein the hinge may be removed
and re-inserted into the upper aperture and the lower aperture to
reversibly detach and re-attach the top portion to the bottom portion.
A second aspect of the invention provides for a dental appliance
designed to be worn in a mouth of a user wherein the user has a
tongue, upper teeth and lower teeth wherein the upper teeth and the
lower teeth are comprised of one or more types of teeth wherein one
of the types of teeth is molars wherein the molars are located
furthest rearward into the mouth of the user, the dental appliance
comprising:
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a generally U-shaped upper base having an upper occlusal surface
wherein the upper occlusal surface contacts the upper teeth and guides
the upper teeth into a correct position wherein a concaved portion is
a depression formed in the upper base wherein the concaved portion is
shaped like the tongue and moves the tongue to an elevated position
with respect to the lower teeth of the user;
a generally U-shaped lower base connected to the upper base
wherein the lower base has a lower occlusal surface wherein the lower
occlusal surface contacts the lower teeth and guides the lower teeth
into a correct position and wherein the upper occlusal surface and the
lower occlusal surface are adjacent and have a combined thickness
wherein the upper occlusal surface contacts each molar of the user
when the upper base and the lower base are worn to prevent the molar
from achieving a malocclusion position; and
a hinge connecting the upper base to the lower base wherein the
hinge has an upper plate that inserts into a top aperture in the upper
base wherein the hinge has a lower plate that inserts into the bottom
aperture in the lower base wherein the hinge may be removed from and
re-inserted into the upper aperture and the lower aperture to
reversibly detach and re-attach the upper base to the lower base.
It is, therefore, an advantage of the present invention to
provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and a method
for treating malocclusions.
Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a
dental appliance having increased thickness between an upper shell and
a lower shell and a system and a method for treating malocclusions
which enables eruption of rear teeth in a mouth of a user.
Still another advantage of the present invention is to provide
a dental appliance having increased thickness between an upper shell
and a lower shell and a system and a method for treating malocclusions
which provides a means for maintaining contact between the upper shell
and lower shell and further maintaining a relative position between
the upper shell and the lower shell.
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Yet another advantage of the present invention is to provide a
dental appliance having increased thickness between an upper shell and
a lower shell and a system and a method for treating malocclusions
which enables alignment of an upper jaw and a lower jaw.
Moreover, an advantage of the present invention is to provide
a dental appliance having increased thickness between an upper shell
and a lower shell and a system and a method for treating malocclusions
which enables the dental appliances to be positioned further rearward
into a mouth of a user.
A further advantage of the present invention is to provide a
dental appliance having increased thickness between an upper shell and
a lower shell and a system and a method for treating malocclusions
which prevent lateral
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movement of a lower jaw of a user.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions which may prevent
shifting of the jaws in an antero-posterior (front to
back) direction and creates a stable forward position of
the lower jaw in relation to the upper jaw.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions which may allow
preformed sockets for various sized 'mouths based on
statistical standards of both shapes and sizes to be
ideally arranged which may or may not be combined with
preformed slots for two or more teeth to be placed in
various areas of the mouth of a deciduous dentition,
mixed dentition and/or a permanent dentition.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions which may have a jaw
arrangement such that a deciduous dentition is provided
with an incisal overjet and/or overbite that may be about
1.5 mm to 2 mm; a mixed dentition overjet and/or overbite
of about 1 to 1.5 mm; and an adult overjet and/or
overbite of about 0.5 mm to 0mm.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions which may have an
appliance made of a resilient transparent material.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions which may have an
appliance made partly of a water-absorbent material and
may or may not be combined with a non-water absorbent
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material to determine the level of wear and/or
cooperation.
A further.advantage of the present invention is to
provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions which may have an
appliance with more vertical thickness of material in
front than in back to create depression of the front
teeth and eruption of the back teeth to correct a
vertical overbite.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions which may have an
appliance with less vertical thickness of material in
front than in the back to create depression of the rear
teeth and eruption of the front teeth to correct an
anterior open bite.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions which may have a
hollowed out area on the upper lingual area of the flange
to encourage the tongue to assume an elevated position to
encourage a widening of the upper arch and discourage
poor swallowing patterns and/or anterior tongue thrust
swallowing habits.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions which may have a
protrusion in the lower lingual area at the midline to
remind the tongue not to be thrust forward during
swallowing.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions which may have a
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slight depression or elevation in the upper lingual area
of the appliance to remind the patient where to place the
tongue during normal swallowing.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions which may provide
additional expansion of the upper posterior segment to
aid in the correction of bilateral or unilateral upper
lingual crossbites.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions which may provide an
additional expansion of the lower posterior segment to
correct scissor-type bites by expansion of the lower
arch.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions which may have holes
at the front parting line to aid in the patients who have
to breathe through the mouth.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions which may have
extensions and thickening of the buccal and lingual
margins to give added strength in bucco-lingual movement
of the posterior teeth.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions which may provide
lower lingual tabs extending down (inferiorly) on either
side of the midline to keep the mandible in an advanced
position to correct overjet, and/or extending laterally
to improve movement of lower lateral incisors forwards
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from a lingual position labially into the arch.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions which may have an
antero-posterior adjustment of the arches (front to back)
by moving the lower jaw back several millimeters (1 to 5
mm) to correct Class I I I type (lower jaw protrusions) jaw
relations.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions which may have
different angulations to the upper and/or lower front
teeth for various corrections relating to the tipping or
inclination (torqueing) of the front teeth of various
type malocclusions.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions which may have
appliances for the extraction of two upper premolars, two
lower premolars, and four premolars in various sizes for
different sized teeth.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions which may have
appliances in different sizes with only three lower
incisors present.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions which may have
appliances with further rearward extensions to fully
cover and even slightly more than fully cover the second
deciduous molars in deciduous dentition appliances; the
first permanent molars in mixed dentition appliances; and
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the second permanent molars in adult dentition
appliances; as well as two upper premolar extraction
appliances, two lower premolar extraction as well as four
premolar extraction appliances as well as Class III,
expansion appliances and all those mentioned above.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions which may have an
upward extension to the upper labial margin to more
securely keep the appliance from slipping backward when
the mouth opens and/or better correction of overjet;
and/or to better control aberrant eruptions of the upper
and/or lower anterior teeth when the extension is added
to the lower labial margin.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions which may have an
appliance with clasps to better retain the appliance to
the upper and/or lower teeth.
A further,advantage of the present invention is to
provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions which may have hooks
and/or tubes to insert other appliances into a preformed
appliance, such as a head gear, bumper, elastics, or the
like.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions which may have no
individual sockets but only a single slot to guide and
straighten the teeth in one or more various sizes.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions which may have a
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flattened occlusal surface to the posterior teeth to
compensate for various occlusal surface anatomy to
prevent cuspal and occlusal surface interferences.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions which may have almost
complete elimination of the lingual posterior shield in
combination with a widened posterior area of the teeth
with or without angled slots to the distal at the buccal
side to allow the posterior teeth to be pushed buccally
and/or distally by the tongue pressing on the teeth from
the lingual.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions which may be molded
in an open position to have the plastic or other material
set in an open position and/or to have the appliance
molded with a sheet of metal to provide the slit opening
and prior to cooling the appliance can cool and set the
hinged area in an open position and/or slit or cut and
have the hinged area reheated and let cool in an open
position.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions which may have larger
sockets and a larger arch to encourage expansion and
spaces to be created for the correction of crowding.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions which may provide a
method of molding a fluoride compound such as stannous or
sodium fluoride into the plastic or other material as the
appliance is molded.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
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provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions which may provide a
method of loading the appliance(s) with a fluoride
compound to soak the fluoride liquid into the interior of
the appliance and when worn by the patient, the fluoride
leaches out to gradually impregnate the teeth.
Alternatively, a gel may be placed'into the appliance at
the time the appliance is worn by the patient.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions which may provide a
method of loading a bleaching gel into the appliance when
the appliance is worn by the patient. Alternatively, a
whitening strip may be inserted onto the teeth as the
appliance is worn, or the strip may be placed into the
appliance opposite the labial surface of these teeth.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions which may provide a
wire to be positioned buccally and labially around the
outside of the appliance wherein the wire may be attached
to the appliance, or may be snapped into the appliance by
two or more ball and socket attachments or may be tied
onto the appliance or slipped into tubes that are molded
into the appliance. When the wire is expanded or
constricted, the appliance may then move the teeth in the
direction of the accessory wire.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions which an imbedded
wire may be molded into the buccal and labial and/or the
lingual of the appliance that may be bent to enlarge
(expand) or constrict the arch.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
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provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions which may provide
appliances in various arch shapes, such as square,
tapered or normally shaped arches.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions which may provide
various anatomic alterations to the incisors to allow
them to fit various racial differences inherent to teeth
of people of, for example, Asian or African descent. In
the case of Asians, an expanded area is provided at each
side (mesial and distal) on the lingual surface to allow
for a vertical bulge termed shovel-shaped incisor anatomy
to fit so that these upper incisor teeth do not become
labially displaced. In the case of the teeth of those of
African descent, a more square anatomy to the incisors
may be incorporated into the appliance.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions which may provide an
appliance that has one preformed slot for all the teeth
which is very narrow labio-lingually in the area of the
incisors; at the canine area in the upper and lower
arches, the labio-lingual area slightly widens
particularly at the midpoint of the canine and on the
lingual of the canine; at the premolar area and/or the
first and second deciduous molars, the appliance slightly
widens and again widens at the area of the permanent
molars. The appliance may be one size or several sizes
for the deciduous, mixed and/or permanent dentition.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions which may provide
appliances that may be dispensed by a machine with or
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without a diagnostic program.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions which may provide
various sizes of appliances which may be measured with a
single measure of one or more front teeth, e.g. at the
end of a package or a paper or similar measure or by a
ruler.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions wherein the incisal
edges are extremely thin labio-lingually and shaped so
that any width of incisor tooth may be effectively moved
and/or rotated by the appliance. The sockets are thin
labio-lingually in the incisal half (upper half) for
better tooth movement.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions wherein the appliance
has an upper and lower trough with labial, buccal and
lingual margins or shields with an isthmus between the
preformed sockets and/or slots for more than one tooth to
accommodate teeth in a deciduous and/or mixed and/or
permanent dentit'ion. The margins may or may not cover a
part of the gingival tissue. The canine sockets are
sharp and pointed to accommodate any shaped canine.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a dental appliance having increased thicknes's
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions wherein sockets of
the dental appliance have interproximal ribs at the
mesial and distal of each tooth to guide the teeth in
eruption and move them mesial or distal along the arch.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
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between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions wherein a labio-
lingual thickness of a socket of the dental appliance is
wider on the mesial than on the distal, which serves to
move the incisors toward the midline.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions which may provide
extraction appliances wherein the interproximals of a
dental appliance are removed at the extraction site,
namely between the canine and second premolar sockets,
while the interproximals between the canine and lateral
and between the second premolar and first adult molar are
increased, all of which aid in the closure of the
extraction site.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions which may provide
extraction appliances wherein the upper first permanent
molar socket is rotated so that the mesio-biccal cusp of
this molar is rotated slightly lingually so that the
molar is encouraged to be rotated in the finished case to
occupy more room mesio-distally and keep the
interproximal closed between the first upper molar and
premolar, since the upper molar is trapezoid in shape.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions which may have sharp
projections descending inferiorly (downward) from the
palatal area lingual to the incisors that discourage
thumb sucking in an open-bite appliance design.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions wherein a distal
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incisal edge of the canines (an increase in length and
steepness of incline) of the dental appliance is
accentuated to enhance incisal space closure by forcing
the teeth to move toward the midline by the wedging
effect from the canines on both sides of the upper and/or
lower.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions which may increase an
upper labial cemento-enamel rib of a dental appliance
that places pressure against the gingival 1/3 of the
labial crown of the upper incisors to aid in lingual root
torque of the teeth.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions wherein molar sockets
of a dental appliance may be squared with less rounded
corners to be able to accept -more unusually shaped
molars, particularly those deciduous or permanent molars
that are more square-shaped.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions wherein a cingulum
area of the upper incisor sockets of the dental appliance
may be increased slightly to accept incisors with larger
cingulum anatomy.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions which may provide a
dental appliance of any length to accommodate various
mouths and for the comfort of the patient such as
providing only an anterior appliance for the front teeth
only.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
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provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions which may utilize
material, such as silicone, acrylic, or the like to the
inside of the appliance in any area to increase the
retainability or fit of the appliance as well as to stop
further and/or any movement of teeth in this area.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions which may have a
varying amount of clearance for a gingival tissue or more
slanted alveolar process in younger children who have
permanent teeth still present in tissue that may have not
yet erupted. This clearance allows the upper and/or
lower margins to clear this tissue without digging into
the tissue and avoids the need for preventive trimming of
the appliance material to avoid pressure or digging into
the tissue of the patient by the appliance margins.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions which may have
detachable upper and lower halves that may be detached by
any means, such as, for example, a metal hinge whose
leaves slip into slots at the rear end of the upper and
lower halves.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions which may have a
hinging mechanism that may be molded into a separate
upper and lower shell and may provide a dental appliance
that may be very thin in the rear portion as well as the
front section making it more comfortable and be able to
allow the upper and lower to hinge together and spring
apart with force.
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A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions which may have a thin
hinge constructed from a stiffer material than the
material of the upper shell and/or lower shell which is
made of a softer material. The hinge may be stiff as
well as forceful and may assist in maintaining a distance
between the two halves with force, and without making the
dental appliance thick and bulky. The dental appliance
may maintain the relative position of the upper shell and
the lower shell perfectly coordinated without distortion
in a side-to-side movement and may maintain the front-to-
back relation in perfect alignment without variation due
to the stiffness of the hinge.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions wherein preformed
sockets and/or slots of the dental appliance may be
designed for more than one tooth, to be arranged in a
perfect intercuspation of teeth, or a super arrangement
that advances or recedes the lower jaw slightly in
relation to the upper teeth, with an ideal or modified
arch shape, all of which will automatically straighten
the teeth of a patient with passive wear and/or active
biting wear to stimulate teeth to move and/or increase
jaw movement and/or growth and/or restrict jaw movement
and/or growth to be able to correct any of the problems
of a malocclusion which include; but are not limited to,
overbite, overjet, open-bite, molar and posterior teeth
occlusion, arch changes, rotations, crowding, spacing,
correction of temporomandibular function and/or problems,
jaw relations and oral habits or malfunction.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions which may have an
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upper and/or a lower margin to cover only the tooth areas
to increase comfort.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions wherein a design of
the appliance with a mechanism for enabling the upper
shell and the lower shell to be separate yet remain in
contact may be made with prefabricated sockets or slots
for more than one tooth or custom made from an actual
model or digital representation of a patient's mouth by
taking models, or obtaining the information by another
source, such as from digital photos, x-rays, or the like
or a combination of prefabricated (derived from standards
of tooth sized and/or shapes) or customized (as derived
directly from a specific patient).
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions wherein a measurement
of a patient's size of teeth may be obtained by any
means, such as, for example, with a ruler, or some sort
of measure of widths and/or sizes of teeth and/or a
single tooth or any combination to obtain a certain size
of appliance.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions wherein the appliance
may be "U" shaped, and may have a tooth receiving trough
with labial or buccal and lingual flanges with
depressions between as individual tooth sockets or slots
for more than one tooth, generally following the outline
of the upper and/or lower teeth, which may or may not
have interproximal ribs defining the outline of teeth.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
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a method for treating malocclusions which may provide
appliances of various sizes to treat malocclusions and
straighten the teeth at various ages in the deciduous,
mixed and/or adult dentitions and either prevent
problems, such as overbite, overjet, open-bite, jaw
relations, crowding, rotations, TMJ problems and such
from developing and/or correcting the same problems.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions which may control the
eruption of teeth and/or depress certain teeth to correct
overbite, gummy smiles, level the occlusion of teeth,
properly intercuspate the teeth as in a correct bite,
correct TMJ problems (temporomandibular problems) or the
like.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions which may straigthen
incoming or erupting teeth prior to adult collagenous
fiber formation and to hold them straight with the
appliance or by any other retaining device while these
fibers develop which can stabilize the result.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions which may straighten
the teeth sufficiently to avoid regular braces and/or
other types of orthodontics at a later stage.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions which may correct jaw
relations whether the case is in an Angle Class I (normal
jaw or molar relation), Class II (low jaw or molars back
from a normal position), Class III (low jaw or molars
forward in position).
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A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions wherein interproximal
ribs between any combination of teeth are removed,
allowing the teeth to be able to slip mesially or
distally easily.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions wherein the appliance
can be manufactured with various resiliency and/or
stiffness or a combination of both types of material to
be more comfortable and/or more efficient in correcting
certain problems, such as softer material in back for
depression of molars in open corrections, or softer
material in front for more comfortable tooth rotations,
or the like.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions which may treat any
combination or number of deciduous, and/or permanent
teeth and may be used in any combination with deciduous
and/or permanent teeth present or absent in the mouth at
anytime or during any period of eruption of exfoliation
of any combination of teeth.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions wherein an
arrangement of the teeth within the dental appliance may
be configured (a) beyond or (b) short of perfection
depending on whether (a) an excessive overjet and/or
receding jaw relation; or (b) protrusive dental and/or
jaw relation is present to achieve a perfect result.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
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between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions which may provide a
dental appliance with varying arch widths that increase
as the tooth sockets get larger. In this way, the arch
size is increased when the teeth of a patient are larger
and also if a patient with smaller teeth than the
sockets, which may allow an arch to widen and/or expand
making more room for crowding.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions which may provide
various sized appliances which may allow patients with
smaller teeth, such as smaller deciduous teeth to wear a
larger appliance with larger sized tooth sockets and a
larger arch form. As a result, the size of the arch may
be increased, and the space required as the larger adult
teeth erupt into the arch may be increased to allow more
room to prevent crowding from taking place.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions which may provide a
dental appliance having higher and thicker margins of the
labio/buccal and lingual shields to better control the
correction of cross-bites of the patient's teeth and to
better control the eruption of the adult teeth.
A further advantage of the present invention is to
provide a dental appliance having increased thickness
between an upper shell and a lower shell and a system and
a method for treating malocclusions which may provide a
dental appliance that is large enough with a means for
enabling the upper shell and the lower shell to separate
as the user wears the dental appliance and opens his/her
mouth, the dental appliance having higher margins which
may prevent either aspiration of an appliance into the
lungs, choking and/or swallowing of the dental appliance.
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Additional features and advantages of the present
invention are described in, and will be apparent from,
the detailed description of the presently preferred
embodiments and from the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 illustrates a top perspective view of a
dental appliance in an embodiment of the present
invention.
Figure 2 illustrates a top perspective view of a
known dental appliance.
Figure 3 illustrates a top perspective view of a
dental appliance in an embodiment of the present
invention.
Figure 4A illustrates a cross-sectional view of a
hinge portion of a known dental appliance taken generally
along the line B-B.
Figure 4B illustrates a top perspective view of a
hinge portion of the dental appliance in Figure 2 taken
generally along the line A-A.
Figure 5 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a
hinge portion of the dental appliance in Figure 3 taken
generally along the line C-C.
Figure 6A illustrates a front plan view of the
dental appliance in Figure 2.
Figure 6B illustrates a front plan view of the
dental appliance in Figure 3.
Figure 6C illustrates a front plan view of the
dental appliance in Figure 3.
Figure 7 illustrates a rear perspective view of a
dental appliance in an embodiment of the present
invention.
Figure 8 illustrates a front plan view of a dental
appliance in an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 9 illustrates a front plan view of a dental
appliance in an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 10A illustrates a cross-sectional view of a
stage of an occlusion of a user of a dental appliance in
an embodiment of the present invention.
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Figure 10B illustrates a cross-sectional view of a
stage of an occlusion of a user of a dental appliance in
an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 10C illustrates a cross-sectional view of a
stage of an occlusion of a user of a dental appliance in
an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 10D illustrates a cross-sectional view of a
stage of an occlusion of a user of a dental appliance in
an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 10E illustrates a cross-sectional view of a
stage of an occlusion of a user of a dental appliance in
an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 11A illustrates a front plan view of a dental
appliance in another embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 11B illustrates a cross-sectional view of the
dental appliance in Figure 11A taken generally along the
line F-F.
Figure 12A illustrates a cross-sectional view of a
known dental appliance taken generally along the line D-
D.
Figure 12B illustrates a cross-sectional view of a
dental appliance in an embodiment of the present
invention taken generally along the line E-E.
Figure 13 illustrates a top perspective view of a
dental appliance in an embodiment of the present
invention.
Figure 14 illustrates a top perspective view of a
dental appliance in an embodiment of the present
invention.
Figure 15 illustrates a top perspective view of a
dental appliance in an embodiment of the present
invention.
Figure 16A illustrates a top plan view of a dental
appliance in an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 16B illustrates a bottom plan view of a
dental appliance in an embodiment of the present
invention.
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Figure 17 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a
dental appliance in an embodiment of the present
invention taken generally along the line E-E.
Figure 18A illustrates a cross-sectional view of a
dental appliance in an embodiment of the present
invention taken generally along the line E-E.
Figure 18B illustrates a cross-sectional view of a
dental appliance in an embodiment of the present
invention taken generally along the line E-E.
Figure 18C illustrates a cross-sectional view of a
dental appliance in an embodiment of the present
invention taken generally along the line E-E.
Figure 18D illustrates a cross-sectional view of a
dental appliance in an embodiment of the present
invention taken generally along the line E-E.
Figure 18E illustrates a cross-sectional view of a
dental appliance in an embodiment of the present
invention taken generally along the line E-E.
Figure 19 illustrates a bottom plan view of a dental
appliance in an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 20 illustrates a top perspective view of a
dental appliance in an embodiment of the present
invention.
Figure 21 illustrates a top perspective view of a
dental appliance in an embodiment of the present
invention.
Figure 22A illustrates a top plan view of a dental
appliance in an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 22B illustrates a cross-sectional view of the
dental appliance in Figure 22A.
Figure 22C illustrates a cross-sectional view of a
dental appliance in an embodiment of the present
invention.
Figure 23 illustrates a top plan view of a dental
appliance in an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 24 illustrates a top plan view of a dental
appliance in an embodiment of the present invention.
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Figure 25A illustrates a top plan view of a dental
appliance in an embodiment of the present invention.
I Figure 25B illustrates a top plan view of a dental
appliance in an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 25C illustrates a top plan view of a dental
appliance in an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 26A illustrates a partial top plan view of a
dental appliance in an embodiment of the present
invention.
Figure 26B illustrates a partial front plan view of
a dental appliance in an embodiment of the present
invention.
Figure 27A illustrates an example of negroid teeth.
Figure 27B illustrates an example of Asian and/or
Caucasian teeth.
Figure 28 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a
dental appliance in an embodiment of the present
invention taken generally along the line E-E.
Figure 29A illustrates a front plan view of a dental
appliance in an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 29B illustrates a front plan view of a dental
appliance in an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 29C illustrates a front plan view of a dental
appliance in an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 30 illustrates a partial top plan view of a
dental appliance in an embodiment of the present
invention.
Figure 31 illustrates a top plan view of a dental
appliance in an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 32 illustrates a top plan view of a dental
appliance in an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 33 illustrates a top plan view of a dental
appliance in an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 34 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a
dental appliance in an embodiment of the present
invention taken generally along the line E-E.
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Figure 35 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a
dental appliance in an embodiment of the present
invention taken generally along the line E-E.
Figure 36 illustrates a top plan view of a dental
appliance in an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 37 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a
dental appliance in an embodiment of the present
invention taken generally along the line E-E.
Figure 38 illustrates a top perspective view of a
dental appliance in an embodiment of the present
invention.
Figure 39 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a
dental appliance in an embodiment of the present
invention taken generally along the line C-C.
Figure 40A illustrates a side view of a dental
appliance in an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 40B illustrates a side view of the dental
appliance in Figure 40A.
Figure 41A illustrates a side view of tooth
alignment resulting from use of a dental appliance in an
embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 41B illustrates a side view of an occlusion
of an individual having a perfect overbite and a perfect
overjet.
Figure 41C illustrates a side view of an occlusion
of an individual.
Figure 41D illustrates a side view of an occlusion
of incisors of an individual.
Figure 42A illustrates a front plan view of a dental
appliance in an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 42B illustrates a front plan view of the
dental appliance in Figure 42A in an embodiment of the
present invention.
Figure 43A illustrates a front plan view hinging
mechanism for a dental appliance in an embodiment of the
present invention.
Figure 43B illustrates a perspective view of the
hinging mechanism in Figure 43A.
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Figure 43C illustrates a perspective view of the
hinging_mechanism in Figure 43A.
Figure 43D illustrates a side view of the hinging
mechanism in Figure 43A implemented within a dental
appliance in an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 43E illustrates a bottom plan view of the
hinging mechanism in Figure 43A implemented within a
dental appliance in an embodiment of the present
invention.
Figure 43F illustrates a side view of a clamping
mechanism to fix an upper shell to a lower shell of a
dental appliance in an embodiment of the present
invention.
Figure 44 illustrates a perspective view of a dental
appliance iri an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 45 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a
dental appliance in an embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED
EMBODIMENTS
The present invention relates to a dental appliance
having increased thickness between an upper shell and a
lower shell and a system and a method for treating
malocclusions. The dental appliances may have an upper
shell which receives the upper teeth of a user. The
dental appliance may also have a lower shell which may
receive the lower teeth of the user. The upper shell and
the lower shell may, for example, be connected at a
hinge. In addition, the upper shell and the lower shell
may be connected by any other means which may enable the
upper shell and the lower shell to be separate bodies yet
remain in contact and maintain the relative position of
the upper and lower halves constant from front to back
and from side to side. Moreover, a thickness between the
upper shell and the lower shell may be sized to allow
positioning of the dental appliance further rearward into
a mouth of a user than demonstrated in known dental
appliances. In addition, a hinge portion of the dental
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appliance, or other connecting means, may be sized to
extend treatment of malocclusions to the rear teeth of a
user and/or to assist in alignment of a jaw of the user.
Referring now to the drawings, wherein like numerals
refer to like parts, Figure 1 illustrates a dental
appliance 2 having an upper shell 4 and a lower shell 6.
The upper shell 4 may have a flat occlusal surface 8.
The lower shell 6 may also have a flat occlusal surface
(not shown) . Both the upper flat occlusal surface 8
and/or the lower occlusal flat surface may accommodate
various teeth having variations in cuspal and/or groove
anatomy without interference. The upper shell 4 and the
lower shell may be attached, for example, at a hinge
portion 10 or by other means. A buccal shield 12 may
provide an outer boundary or wall for the dental
appliance 2 and a lingual shield 14 may provide an inner
boundary or wall for the dental appliance 2.
The dental appliance 2 may have a first thickness 16
between the upper shell 4 and the lower shell 6 at a
front portion 18 of the dental appliance 2 which receives
incisors. The thickness 16 may be sized to stimulate
masseter muscles of a user when the dental appliance 2 is
worn. Specifically, the thickness 16 between the upper
shell 4 and the lower shell 6 may assist a user in
maintaining the dental appliance 2 within the mouth while
sleeping. In addition, the dental appliance 2 may
provide a force against a dentition of the user to
increase depressive forces against maxillary (upper) and
mandibular (lower) incisors and canines. As a result,
the dental appliance 2 may assist in correcting an
excessive overbite. Moreover, as the thickness 16 is
increased, the dental appliance 2 may increase automatic
triggering of a closing musculature.
The hinge portion 10 may have a second thickness 20
between the occlusal surface 8 of the upper shell 4 and
an occlusal surface (not shown) of the lower shell 6.
The thickness 16 between the upper shell 4 and the lower
shell 6 which receive the incisors may or may not be
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equal to the thickness 20 of the hinge portion 10.
Preferably, the first thickness 16 is greater than the
second thickness 20, especially in cases in which the
dental appliance 2 may treat overbite. The first
thickness 16 and the second thickness 20 may be sized to
enable the dental appliance 2 to be positioned close to
a rear of the mouth of the user when worn. The first
thickness 16 and the second thickness 20 may be sized to
enable the dental appliance 2 to be worn further within
the mouth of the user than known dental appliances.
Figure 2 illustrates a known dental appliance 22.
The dental appliance 22 has sockets 24 for receiving
individual teeth of a user. The dental appliance 22 also
has an isthmus 27 between a lingual shield 26 and a
buccal shield 28. The isthmus 24 has a reduced thickness
30 at a hinge portion 32 or, in other known embodiments,
at a most rear area of a dental appliance at which an
upper shell and a lower shell are fixed together. For
example, the thickness 30 is often less than one
millimeter. Figure 4A provides a cross-sectional view of
the hinge portion 32 generally taken along the line B-B.
As previously stated, the reduced thickness 30 of the
dental appliance 22 is intended to encourage eruption of
rear teeth, but requires a stabilizing rib 23 across a
distal end 25 to provide strength to the isthmus 27.
Figure 4B illustrates a partial top view of the distal
end 25 of the dental appliance 22. The dental appliance
22 prevents complete eruption of the rear tooth and does
not allow complete treatment of a malocclusion.
Moreover, the reduced thickness 30 prevents a rear
portion 31 of the dental appliance 22 from covering an
entire occlusal surface of a last molar. As a result,
only a portion of the last molar is corrected by the
dental appliance 22. An uprightness of the molar is also
affected by a tipping action of the dental appliance on
the last tooth; specifically, a depressing of movement of
the last tooth by the rib 23.
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Figure 3 illustrates a dental appliance 34 of the
present invention. The dental appliance 34 may have
sockets 36 for receiving individual teeth of a user or
may have slots for more than one tooth. The sockets 36
or slots may be made from impressions of a specific
patient's mouth. The sockets 36 and/or slots may also be
made from statistical standards of shapes and/or sizes of
groups of teeth arranged in an ideal arrangement to be
used in deciduous, mixed, and/or adult dentitions. Also,
the dental appliance 34 may have an increased thickness
38 between an upper shell 40 and a lower shell 42, in an
area of the upper shell 40 and the lower shell 42 which
may receive the incisors, than demonstrated in the dental
appliance 22 of Figure 2. In addition, the dental
appliance 34 may have an isthmus 44 which may have an
increased thickness 46 at, for example, a hinge 48 or
other means of connecting the upper shell 40 and the
lower shell 42 wherein the upper shell 40 and the lower
shell 42 are separate bodies yet remain in proper
relation to each other from side-to-side and from front
to back. The thickness 46 of the isthmus 44 may be
greater in comparison to the thickness 30 of the isthmus
24 illustrated in Figure 2. A cross-sectional view of
the isthmus 44 taken generally along the line C-C is
provided in Figure 5.
The increased thickness 46 of the isthmus 44 may
allow the posterior margins to be thicker and provide
more force for tooth movement in the rear portion of the
mouth in spite of the resilient material from which the
dental appliance 34 is constructed and remain comfortable
to a user, particularly in the front of the mouth where
the margins may be thinner. Moreover, the increased
thickness 46 of the isthmus 44 may eliminate a need for
the rib 23 of the dental appliance 22 of Figure 2 at the
distal end 25. The increased thickness 46 of the isthmus
44 may also enable a distal end 37 of the dental
appliance 34 to proceed further rearward into the mouth
of the user. The distal end 37 may then cover and
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support an entire crown of the last molar for a user
having a mixed dentition, a deciduous dentition or a full
adult dentition.
Referring to Figure 4A, the lingual shield 26 and
the buccal shield 28 have a height 29. At a distal end
25, the height 29 of the buccal shield 28 and the lingual
shield 26 is reduced because of the reduced thickness 30
of the isthmus 24 and an inability of the dental
appliance 22 to proceed as far rearward into the mouth of
the user as the dental appliance 34. However, the dental
appliance 34 of Figure 3 may have an increased height 41
for a lingual shield 43 and a buccal shield 45 because of
the increased thickness 46 of the isthmus 44. A
thickness 55 of the lingual shield 43 and the buccal
shield 45 may also be increased. As a result, the dental
appliance 34 may have increased strength to support the
lingual shield 43 and the buccal shield 45. Moreover,
the dental appliance 34 may be positioned further
rearward into the mouth of the user than demonstrated in
known dental appliances. Moreover, the dental appliance
34 may control a buccal movement and/or a lingual
movement of the last molar and/or a tooth adjacent to the
last molar. Control of the buccal movement and/or the
lingual movement may enable a molar crossbite or a
constricted or wide upper/lower arch to be better
controlled and/or treated. Control of the buccal
movement and/or the lingual movement may also enable
complete correction of a bilateral crossbite, or scissor
bite. In an embodiment, a greater height 41 of the
lingual shield 43 and the buccal shield 45 and/or a
greater thickness of the lingual shield 43 and the buccal
shield 45 may enable the dental appliance 34 to control
cross-bites in a posterior area and/or control eruption
of molars more efficiently then demonstrated in the
dental appliance 22.
In addition, the hinge 48, or other connecting
means, may provide greater resistance in closing, as well
as lateral movement, due to the increase in height 41 and
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the thickness 55 of the lingual shield 43 and the buccal
shield 45. The hinge 48 may also guide a lower jaw of
the user to close in a proper forward position without
producing a distortion antero-posteriorly which may be
critical to treatment of overjet and molar relations.
Further, the hinge 48 may provide increased lateral
control of the lower jaw, enabling proper intercuspation
and lateral coordination of an upper jaw and the lower
jaw to promote a proper bite. Also, the hinge 48, or any
other hinging mechanism, may enable proper correction of
midlines at a front of the mouth of the user, as
illustrated in Figure 6B at line G-G.
In an embodiment, the dental appliance 34 when worn
may proceed rearward to cover a first deciduous molar of
a user having a deciduous or mixed dentition. In another
embodiment, the dental appliance 34 may be designed to
proceed rearward to cover a second deciduous molar of a
user with a deciduous or mixed dentition. In yet another
embodiment, the dental appliance 34 may be designed to
proceed rearward to cover a first permanent molar of a
user also having a mixed dentition, or a permanent
dentition, or cover a second permanent molar in an adult
dentition.
In an embodiment, the appliance 34 may be molded in
a wide-open position which may strengthen the springiness
of the hinge. As a result, the dental appliance 34 may
be more likely to open as the mouth opens. In another
embodiment, the dental appliance 34 may be molded by
placing a metal plate at a parting line (not shown) to
prevent the upper shell 40 and the lower shell 42 from
being molded together. In another embodiment, the dental
appliance 34 may be cut with, for example, a saw or knife
to shape the upper shell 40 and the lower shell 42. The
dental appliance 34, when molded in a closed position,
may be opened and held in an open position while a
material the dental appliance 34 is constructed from
cools. In another embodiment, the hinge 48 of the dental
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appliance 34 may be opened, reheated and maintained in an
open position while cooling.
The increased thickness 38 between the upper shell
40 and the lower shell 42, in an area of the dental
appliance 34 of Figure 3 which receives incisors, enables
the dental appliance 34 to implement one or more types of
hinge mechanisms, such as, for example, rubber hinges,
metal plates, snaps, metal springs, repelling magnets or
like mechanisms. Implementation of a hinge may not be
possible in the dental appliance 22 of Figure 2 because
of a reduced thickness 51, 30 between an upper shell 53
and a lower shell 55, causing the hinge to be thin and/or
weak. However, the dental appliance 34 of Figure 3 may
implement any type of hinge mechanism which may be heavy
despite constructing the dental appliance 34 from a
resilient material. As a result, the hinge may withstand
an increased force of closure and/or may resist lateral
movement of a lower jaw of a child. Moreover, the hinge
may be implemented in the dental appliance 34 for
treatment of malocclusions of users having deciduous
dentitions, mixed dentitions, or adult dentitions. The
dental appliance 34 may require resiliency to straighten
the teeth without pain, but the hinge may require greater
stiffness as a result of a thicker hinge, particularly
for treating deciduous dentitions, mixed dentitions, or
adult dentitions in which the user may provide increased
force against the dental appliance 34 as an age of the
user increases.
In cases in which a child or adult may wear the
dental appliance 34 while sleeping and the child or adult
sleeps on a side, a jaw of the child or adult may be
pushed to one side with respect to an opposing jaw. A
bulkier and larger sized hinge, or other connecting
means, may resist movement of the jaw, prevent distortion
of the dentition of the user and encourage more complete
straightening of the teeth. Further, a resiliency of the
dental appliance 34 wherein the hinge is more resistant
to distortion due to the size of the hinge may be crucial
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to treatment of malocclusions of users, for example, of
age five or older, where flexibility of the dental
appliance 34 may be required.
The increased thickness 38 at a front 141 of the
dental appliance 34 of Figure 3, if increased beyond a
normal amount beyond the thickness 46 of the rear portion
37 of the dental appliance 34 may assist in correcting an
excessive overbite by encouraging eruption of back teeth
and depression of front teeth. In an embodiment, the
thickness 38 may be less than a normal amount than the
thickness 46 of the rear 37 of appliance 34; as a result,
the dental appliance 34 may assist in correcting an open
bite wherein the back teeth are depressed, and the front
teeth are allowed to erupt.
Referring now to Figure 6A, a front plan view is
provided of the dental appliance 22. The dental appliance
22 has a narrowed vertical distance 16 between incisal
edges of upper incisors 17 and lower incisors 19. Figure
6B illustrates the dental appliance 34 wherein the
increased thickness 38 between the upper incisors 33 and
the lower incisors 35 in an area which receives the
incisors may allow an increase in overall bulk of the
hinge 48 and the isthmus 44. Figure 6C illustrates the
dental appliance 34 wherein an arrow 85 may indicate a
direction for proper placement of the dental appliance 34
within the mouth of the user.
Figure 7 illustrates a rear perspective view of a
dental appliance 60 having an increased thickness 62
between an upper shell 64 and a lower shell 66. The
increased thickness 62 enables a lingual surface 68 to
have a concave portion 70 having an increased elevation
72 from a split line 101 at a front end 73 of the dental
appliance 60. More specifically, the concave portion 70
may have a maximum height adjacent to sockets 74 for
receiving first deciduous molars or first premolars;
sockets 76 for receiving canines; and sockets 78 for
receiving incisors. The concave portion 70 enables a
tongue of the user to be placed within the mouth at an
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elevated position against a palate of an upper arch
during resting posture. Moreover, the concave portion 70
prevents the tongue from being positioned at a lower
position of a lower arch, which may be an abnormal
position. By elevating the tongue of the user, the
dental appliance 60 may cause expansion or widening of
the upper arch.
In an embodiment, prongs or spikes 190 may be
incorporated in the lingual surface 68 of the dental
appliance 60 and may prevent the tongue from being pushed
forward during swallowing or while at rest. A depressed
area 192 may be positioned at the midline of the dental
appliance 60, behind the sockets 78 and closer to the
rear of the mouth. The depressed area 192 may serve as
a guide for the user as to where to position the tongue
during swallowing.
In addition, the dental appliance 60 of Figure 7 may
have lingual tabs 71 extending from the lower shell 66.
A separation 73 may be provided between the lingual tabs
71 for a lingual midline frenum of a user. The lingual
tabs 71 may extend laterally to assist in eruption and
labial re-positioning of lingually-displaced lower
lateral incisor teeth.
The dental appliance 60 may also have posterior
slots 75 within the upper shell 64 and/or the lower shell
66. Because of the increased thickness 62 between the
upper shell 64 and the lower shell 66, the posterior
slots 75 may be longer mesio-distally than posterior
slots in known dental appliances. As a result, the
posterior slots 75 may properly accommodate posterior
teeth of larger sizes, which may be a common variable in
users. The posterior slots 75 may have a shovel-like
shape at a distal end 77 of the dental appliance 60 and
may taper flatly at the distal end 77 without requiring
the distal rib 23 to provide additional strength to the
isthmus 27 of the dental appliance 32. Despite the
tapering of the posterior slots 75, a hinge portion 79
may maintain proper correction of the rear teeth of the
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user due to an increased thickness 81 of the hinge
portion 79.
Referring now to Figure 8, a front plan view is
provided of the dental appliance 60 having breathing
holes 82 preferably located in an anterior segment 73 of
the dental appliance 60. Positioning of the breathing
holes 82 in the anterior segment 73 is preferable for
patients having, for example, asthma, allergies, or like
medical conditions. The breathing holes 82 may enable a
user to bite into the dental appliance 60 for an extended
time while maintaining breathing. The dental appliance
60 may have a first increased thickness 84 in an upper
shell 86 between an incisal edge 87 and a first parting
line 89. Likewise, a lower shell 90 may have a second
increased thickness 88 between an incisal edge 91 and a
second parting line 93. The first increased thickness 84
may or may not be equal to the second increased thickness
88.
The first increased thickness 84 and the second
increased thickness 88 may enable the breathing holes 82
to be sized larger than breathing holes placed in known
dental appliances. As a result, the breathing holes 82
may not interfere with a vertical force provided by the
dental appliance '60 towards the teeth of the user. The
vertical force may be required to properly correct, for
example, overbite and/or straighten the teeth of the
user.
Figure 9 illustrates a front plan view of a dental
appliance 92. A line 100 molded into both an upper shell
102 and a lower shell 104 of the dental appliance 92 may
indicate to the user a proper method of placing the
dental appliance 92 within the mouth.
Referring now to Figures 10A through 10E, various
tooth relations are provided for dental appliances which
may treat users having different types of dentitions.
Specifically, a dental appliance 150, such as that
illustrated in Figure 13, may treat a user having a
permanent dentition and may have an almost end-to-end
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relation 103 of an upper incisor 104 and a lower incisor
106 as illustrated in Figure 10A. Figure lOB illustrates
an ideal incisor relation 105 which may be approximately
0.5 to 1.5 millimeters of overjet, in a front-to-rear
distance, between an upper incisor 107 and a lower
incisor 108 in a perfect dentition. In the use of a
dental appliance 170, illustrated in Figure 14 or
appliance 190 in Figure 15, which may treat a user having
a mixed or deciduous dentition, an overjet relation of
= 10 1.0 millimeters to 2.5 millimeters as shown in Figure 10C
would be indicated. The younger the child, the more
overjet would be indicated in the design of the appliance
170 or 190 in Figures 14 and 15 respectively. Figure 10C
illustrates an incisor relation 109 between an upper
incisor 111 and a lower incisor 113 in a dental appliance
170 or 190, illustrated in Figure 14 and 15, which may
treat a user having a mixed or deciduous dentition. The
relation 109 of the dental appliance 190 may have an
overjet of, for example, one to 2.5 millimeters. An end-
to-end relation 114 of an upper incisor 110 and a lower
incisor 112 is illustrated in Figure 10D.
In another embodiment, various arrangements of the
teeth or jaw relations may be made or created by the
dental appliance 103 such as slightly beyond perfection,
as illustrated in Figure 10A, to compensate for a case in
which the dental appliance 103 is not worn in a full-time
manner. Figure 10B illustrates a perfect jaw relation
105. Figure 10C illustrates a jaw relation 109 which may
be short of perfection since the need of perfection is
not recommended at younger ages when considerable lower
jaw growth still remains. If the user is young and has
several years of growth of the lower jaw remaining, a
greater overjet configuration of the dental appliance 170
or the dental appliance 190 may be provided to the user.
In an embodiment, compensation may be required for
a receding jaw of the user. Accordingly, an end-to-end
jaw and tooth relation may be provided, such as that
illustrated in Figure 10D or even where the lower teeth
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112 are po,sitioned in front of the upper teeth 110 by 1
to 4 millimeters (not shown) . In an embodiment, the
patient or the user may require compensation for an
overgrown lower jaw, referred to as a Class III, or
mandibular protrusion. A dental appliance may be
required which may provide a jaw relation 117 between an
upper incisor 118 and a lower incisor 119, such as that
illustrated in Figure 10E, which may provide a greater
overjet configuration to the user.
Figure 11A illustrates a front plan view of a dental
appliance 130 having an upper labial shield 132 which may
have an extended height 134. Moreover, the upper labial
shield 132 may extend distally through a canine 136,
illustrated in cross-section in Figure 11B, or further
rearward into the mouth. The upper labial shield 132 may
extend beyond an erupting canine 136 when the dental
appliance 130 is worn. Accordingly, the upper labial
shield 132 may contact high labially erupting canines and
guide a tooth into the arch, which may assist in treating
users with a mixed dentition or adult dentition who may
have poorly erupting teeth.
In addition, the extended height 134 of the upper
labial shield 132 may prevent a mandible of the user from
slipping lingually as the mouth of the user is opened.
As a result, the dental appliance 130 may assist in
mandibular advancement and growth. The dental appliance
130 may also alter forward growth patterns of the upper
jaw. In addition, the dental appliance 130 may assist in
correcting overjet. Further, the dental appliance 130
may correct molar relations by causing the lower jaw to
move forward while restraining the upper jaw. The lower
jaw may then be held in a forward position until growth
of the lower jaw stabilizes the lower jaw in the forward
position.
Figures 12A and 12B illustrate a side cross-
sectional view of a front portion of a known dental
appliance 140 and a front portion of a dental appliance
160 of the present invention taken generally along the
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lines D-D and F-F, respectively. The known dental
appliance 140 has a cemento-enamel junction elevated rim
144 which alters free eruption or tooth movement required
for treatment of a malocclusion. In contrast, the dental
appliance 160 may have a smooth area 168 in the lower
lingual area 166 and have a smooth area 164 in an upper
lingual area 170 which may be slanted more towards the
lingual. The smooth area 168 and 164 may have a greater
incline in a lingual direction; more specifically, toward
an end portion 166 of a lower lingual margin and toward
an end portion 170 of an upper lingual margin. The
smooth upper area 164 and/or the lower smooth area 168
may provide a more graduated incline for lingually-
positioned incisors and/or canines to be properly guided
into a proper place in an arch.
Figure 13 illustrates a dental appliance 150. The
dental appliance 150 may have sockets 182 for receiving
a last molar. In addition, the dental appliance 150 may
have sockets 192 for receiving premolars. In an
embodiment, the dental appliance 150 may be altered
wherein an upper premolar on each side may be removed
(not shown). In another embodiment, a lower premolar on
each side may be removed (not shown). In another
embodiment, four premolars may be removed, such as, for
example, one premolar in each quadrant (not shown) A
remaining premolar (not shown) in each of these
embodiments may have a similar size and shape of a second
upper premolar (not shown) and/or a second lower premolar
(not shown) to accommodate either a first premolar or
second premolar.
Figure 14 illustrat'es a dental appliance 170 which
may have a hinge 137 having a greater thickness than
known dental appliances. The hinge 137 may provide a
sturdier mechanism for a patient of five or six years and
older having, for example, a mixed dentition, and
requiring a mixed dentition dental appliance. A thicker
hinge 137 may also provide a sturdier mechanism for an
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adult patient having, for example, an adult dentition,
and requiring an adult dentition dental appliance.
In general, older children and adults have stronger
muscles for mastication and, as a result, chew and move
their jaws with greater force. A larger, more massive
hinge design may be required to resist side-to-side
distorted movements as well as forward and backward
displacements of the upper shell and the lower shell of
a dental appliance. The sturdier hinge 48 may prevent
such distortions to the dental appliance because the
overall material of the appliance may be constructed from
a resilient material to straighten rotated teeth without
pain and discomfort to the user.
In addition, a thicker hinge 137 may provide a
thicker or greater vertical distance 81 in the dental
appliance 170. As a result, an isthmus 44 of the dental
appliance 170 may be thicker 46 and may enable the dental
appliance 170 to be positioned further toward the rear of
the mouth wherein a distal end 180 may extend beyond the
position of the last molar and a last molar slot 184 may
contact the last molar of the patient. Further, the
dental appliance 170 may prevent choking, aspiration or
swallowing of the dental appliance. The distal end 280
of the dental appliance 150 may extend beyond a last
molar enabling contact between a last molar slot 182 and
the complete mesio-distal extent of the last molar of the
patient. Likewise, the distal end 180 of the dental
appliance 170 may extend beyond a. last molar enabling
contact between a last molar slot 184 and the complete
mesio-distal extent of the last molar of the patient. In
addition, the distal end 380 of the dental appliance 190
may also extend beyond a last molar, enabling contact
between a last molar slot 386 and the complete mesio-
distal extent of the last molar of the patient.
In another embodiment, a dental appliance 508 may
have a hinging mechanism 500, illustrated in Figures 43A
through 43E, that is constructed from a material separate
from a remainder of the dental appliance 508. The
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material may be harder than the material forming the
remainder of the dental appliance 508. In addition, the
hinging mechanism may be imbedded into the material of
the remainder of the dental appliance 508. The hinging
mechanism 500 may be made of metal or plastic or the
like.
The hinging mechanism 500 may be made of, for
example, polypropylene or like material. In an
embodiment, the hinge mechanism 500 may have a living
type hinge 502 and holes 504 to secure the hinge
mechanism 500 to the dental appliance 508. In an
embodiment, the dental appliance 508 may be molded. The
molded, pliable material of an upper shell and a lower
shell may project into the securing holes 504 of the
hinge 500. In addition, the softer material of the upper
shell and the lower shell may or may not be molded after
placement of the hinge mechanism 500 adjacent to the
dental appliance 500 to cover the living hinge portion
502 of the hinge 500 to create a unified one-piece
appliance, as illustrated in Figure 43D. This type of
hinge 500 may enable the dental appliance 508 to have a
shorter thickness 81 and/or a shorter thickness 38. As
a result, the dental appliance 508 and the hinge
mechanism 500 may be more comfortable to the patient.
The dental appliance 508 may also project further into
the mouth in a rearward direction with less material in
a vertical direction.
Further, the living hinge 502 may be made stiffer or
weaker by varying a thickness of a portion of the hinge
500 which may bend. The hinge 500 may be molded in an
open position and also may be molded into the upper shell
and the lower shell in an open position. This enables
the hinge 500 to be stronger and to spring open with more
force than a known hinge that is made of a softer
material.
The hinging mechanism 500 has advantages of being
more comfortable to the patient because the dental
appliance 508 may be made significantly smaller in
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thickness vertically. The dental appliance 508 may be
more durable than known dental appliances because of a
resistance to breakage. Moreover, the dental appliance
508 may be soft and resilient; however, the dental
appliance 508 may have a spring-like hinge that is of a
stiff material and that may resume an open position more
readily than known dental hinges constructed from softer
materials. The dental hinge 500 may have a longer memory
and may not become worn as quickly as demonstrated in
known dental appliances, particularly under a higher
temperature of the mouth.
In an embodiment, a dental appliance may have
sockets or slots arranged wherein a perfect intercuspated
articulation 354 of an upper shell and a lower shell is
created. Such an articulation is illustrated in Figure
41A. A perfect overbite and overjet 356, such as that
illustrated in Figure 41D, may be produced automatically
from the dental appliances 150, 170 190, and 508
illustrated in Figures 13, 14 15 and 43D respectively.
Moreover, the dental appliances 150, 170, 190 and 508 may
correct crowding, rotations or spacing, and may provide
healthy temporomandibular joints without abnormal
symptoms.
In an embodiment, a dental appliance may have any
combination of sockets or slots for more than one tooth.
Moreover, the dental appliance may be designed after
obtaining models of a user. In an embodiment, the dental
appliance may be partly or completely formed from
standards of average tooth sizes or shapes and/or from
models of a specific patient. In an embodiment, the
dental appliance may be created from digital photos,
video images, x-rays, or the like. In another
embodiment, the dental appliance may be created from a
computer-generated digital image. The dental appliance
may have a hinge mechanism at a rear of the dental
appliance as illustrated in Figures 3 and 43 D.
The dental appliances 150, 170, 190 and 508
illustrated in Figures 13, 14, 15 and 43D, respectively,
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may automatically straighten teeth of a user.
Accordingly, the dental appliances 150, 170, 190 and 508
may be dispensed from a machine, either with a diagnosis
by an individual or a computer program. In an
embodiment, a user may independently determine an
appropriate dental appliance by observing several
examples and measuring his or her own teeth. The dental
appliance may be dispensed by a machine or may be
purchased over the counter.
In an embodiment, a user may measure his or her own
teeth by measuring a front tooth or teeth from an image
provided at an end of a box. In an embodiment, a paper
measuring ruler may be provided with a packaging
associated with the dental appliance. In another
embodiment, the user may look into a mirror and a digital
video camera or still camera may calculate a size of the
teeth and may display the size on a monitor.
In an embodiment, the dental appliance 150, 170, 190
and 508 illustrated in Figures 13, 14, 15 and 43D,
respectively, may be sized upon measuring the teeth of
the user with a ruler. The user may measure widths of
one to several teeth, either upper teeth or lower teeth,
to obtain an estimate of the size of the required dental
appliance.
In another embodiment, a dental appliance may have
a hinge mechanism that is generally U-shaped. In
addition, an occlusal surface of the dental appliance may
have individual tooth sockets and/or slots for more than
one tooth. The dental appliance may also have a labial
margin, a buccal margin and/or a lingual margin.
Further, the dental appliance may have an isthmus
connecting the labial margin, the buccal margin and/or
the lingual margin which may have individual
interproximal ribs 193, 194 and 196 for the teeth of the
user or interproximal extensions in areas where teeth may
be located in a slotted dental appliance 512 in which no
individual sockets may be present, such as that
illustrated in Figure 44.
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In an embodiment, the dental appliances 150, 170,
190 and 508 may have a hinging mechanism and may have
various graduated sizes for treatment of different age
groups. The dental appliances6150, 170, 190 and 508 may
straighten the teeth and/or guide the teeth into the
mouth while the teeth erupt. The dental appliance may
also prevent and/or correct overbite, overjet, TMJ
problems, open-bite, spacing, crowding and rotations. In
addition, the dental appliance may control eruption of
teeth or may enhance and/or encourage eruption and/or
inhibit or discourage eruption and/or depress teeth. As
a result, the dental appliance may prevent gummy smiles,
overbite and may produce proper intercuspation 354 of
teeth, and/or may properly level an occlusion 357 of
teeth from a level of an improper occlusion 355.
In an embodiment, illustrated in Figure 38, the
dental appliance 340 may have a length to receive, for
example, only an anterior or front section of an upper
shell and/or a lower shell. The dental appliances 150,
170, 190 and 508 of Figures 13, 14, 15 and 43D,
respectively, may also have a length to receive only an
anterior or front section of an upper shell and/or a
lower shell. In another embodiment, the dental
appliances 150, 170, 190 and 508 may have various lengths
(not shown).
Figures 16A and 16B illustrate an upper shell 206
and a lower shell 218, respectively, of a dental
appliance. The upper shell 206 may have arch widths 200,
201, 202, 203 and 204. The lower shell 218 may have arch
widths 208, 210, 212, 214 and 216. In an embodiment, the
arch widths 200, 201, 202, 203 and 204 of the upper shell
206 may be sized greater than the upper arch widths for
the dental appliances 150, 170, 190 and 508 in Figures
13, 14, 15 and 43D as well as the normal sized arch
widths 208, 210, 212, 214 and 216 of the lower shell 218.
As a result, the dental appliance may correct a
bilaterally constricted upper arch and bilateral and/or
unilateral posterior cross-bite. In an embodiment, the
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arch widths 208, 210, 212, 214 and 216 of the lower shell
218 may be sized greater than the arch widths 200, 201,
202, 203 and 204 of the upper shell 206. The dental
appliance may then correct a telescoping lower arch or
scissor bite. The upper shell 40 and the lower shell 42
of the dental appliance 34 of Figure 3 may be sized in
manners similar to those described for the upper shell
206 and the lower shell 218. The dental appliance 34 may
correct malocclusions, such as crossbites and/or scissor
bites, as a result of the increased height 41 of the
lingual shield 43 and the buccal shield 45 and/or the
increased thickness 55 of the lingual shield 43 and the
buccal shield 45. In an embodiment, widths 200, 201,
202, 203 and 204 of the upper shell 206 and the widths
208, 210, 212, 214 and 216 of the lower shell 218 may
enlarge as the teeth of the user get larger and vice-
versa. This, enlargement of the arches, however, may or
may not be in coordination with tooth size. When only
expansion of the arches is required, this coordination
between arch size and tooth size may not be present.
In an embodiment, the arch widths 200, 201, 202 and
204 of the upper shell 206 and the arch widths 208, 210,
212, 214 and 216 of the lower shell 218 may be wider or
narrower than normally demonstrated in arches of the user
to enlarge or constrict both arches simultaneously.
Figure 17 illustrates a cross-section of a front of
a dental appliance 220. The dental appliance 220 may
have an increased distance 221 between an upper jaw area
223a and a lower jaw area 223b. The dental appliance 220
may correct Class III jaw relations, commonly called
protrusion or a forward position of the lower jaw in
relation to the upper jaw, by moving the lower set of
teeth 223b in a rearward position in relation to the
upper set of teeth 223a which increases the distance 221.
Figures 18A through 18E illustrate various
angulations of sockets for front teeth, namely, incisor
areas of a dental appliance. Figure 18A illustrates a
normal angulation 222. Figure 18B illustrates an
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angulation 224 in which incisors of the user may be more
labially angulated. The angulation 224 may satisfy
orthodontic philosophies, such as, for example,
Bioprogressive group philosophies. Figure 18C
illustrates an angulation 226 which may have a more
upright inclination than the angulation 222. Figure 18D
illustrates a normal angulation 228 for lower incisors.
Further, Figure 18E illustrates an angulation 230 which
may have a more lingual crown inclination in comparison
to the angulation 228.
In an embodiment, the dental appliance 34 in Figure
3 or the dental appliance 22 in Figure 2 may have three
lower incisors present in an appliance. Figure 19
illustrates such a dental appliance 242 which may have
three slots 240 for the lower incisors of the user. The
appliances could be of the type for the adult dentition
Figure 13, the mixed dentition Figure 14 or the deciduous
dentition Figure 15 or with additional hinging mechanisms
such as those illustrated in Figures 40B and 43D.
Figure 20 illustrates a dental appliance 246 which
may have hooks 248 for attaching elastics, head gear or
other devices within the mouth of the user. In an
embodiment, the dental appliance 246 may have tubes 250
which may assist in securing a head gear appliance or
accessory wires within the mouth of theuser. Clasps 244
may be provided and may be constructed from metal,
plastic or other material. The clasps 244 may be used to
attach the dental appliance 246 to the mouth of the user.
Figure 21 illustrates another embodiment of a dental
appliance 265 which may have a single slot 261 and may
have an area 260 for receiving posterior teeth. The
slot 261 may narrow in an area 262 of the dental
appliance 265 for receiving canine teeth. The slot 261
may also narrow in an area 264 for receiving incisor
teeth. Each area 260,262 and 264 varies in shape and/or
size to adapt to the general anatomy of different types
of the teeth of the user. The slot 261 may be in an
upper shell 267 and/or a lower shell 269. In other
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embodiments, the dental appliance 265 may have any
combination of slots and/or individual sockets in any
number and/or location in the upper shell 267 and/or the
lower shell 269.
Figures 22A and 22B illustrates a dental appliance
274 which may have a lingual shield 273 having a shorter
length in the upper shell and/or the lower shell. In an
embodiment, illustrated.in Figure 22C, no lingual shield
is provided in the dental appliance 274. Such an
embodiment may allow the tongue of the patient to exert
an outward pressure against the upper teeth and/or the
lower teeth and may cause expansion of the arch of the
patient. In an embodiment, sockets 270 may be provided
for teeth that are angulated toward a rear portion 271 of
the dental appliance 274. A buccal shield 277 in the
upper and/or lower arch may be expanded in a buccal
direction. The dental appliance 274 may cause the upper
and/or lower teeth to move buccally and may also
distalize the teeth.
In an embodiment, the dental appliances 150, 170,
190 and 508 in Figures 13, 14, 15 and 43D, respectively,
may have a fluoride compound molded with the plastic or
other material the dental appliance may be constructed
from. In an embodiment, the dental appliances 150, 170,
190 and 508 may have a fluoride liquid placed into a
socket or slot area of the dental appliance 150, 170 or
190. The fluoride may be absorbed by the material the
dental appliance may be constructed from. When the
dental appliance is worn by the user, the fluoride
compound may leach out and may be absorbed by the teeth
of the user. The dental appliance may then provide
caries or cavity prevention. In another embodiment, a
fluoride gel may be placed into the dental appliance
prior to being worn. In another embodiment, a bleaching
gel may be placed into the dental appliance to whiten the
teeth of the user. In another embodiment, whitening
strips may be placed on the teeth before inserting the
dental appliance into the mouth. In an embodiment,
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illustrated in Figure 45, a labial shield or shell of the
upper 526 and/or lower 528 may be roughened on its
interior or lingual surface 520 of the upper and on the
lingual surface 524 of the lower to secure the position
of the whitening strips facing the labial or front
surface of the upper front teeth and/or lower front
teeth.
The dental appliances 150, 170, 190 and 508
illustrated in Figures 13, 14, 15 and 43D, respectively,
may be placed into a mouth with crowded teeth or
potentially crowded teeth. In an embodiment, a larger-
sized dental appliance 150, 170 or 190 may be used. As
a result, additional spacing may occur during and/or
after the correction which may correct present or future
crowding of the teeth. In an embodiment, a smaller-sized
dental appliance may be used to close spaces associated
with spaced teeth or potentially spaced teeth in
children. An individual dental appliance may be designed
in various sizes and may be calibrated as to the size of
the teeth and/or graduated as to size intervals. As a
result, predictions as to size of the dental appliance
required may be made more conveniently.
Figure 23 illustrates a dental appliance 282 which
may have a wire 276 which may be snapped onto a buccal
surface 283 and/or labial surface 285 of the dental
appliance. In an embodiment, ball and socket attachments
may be provided on the wire 278 and within an interior
(not shown) of the dental appliance 282. The ball and
socket attachments may be snapped into an inset 281. In
an embodiment, illustrated in Figure 24, a dental
appliance 286 may have a wire 284 molded within the
dental appliance 286 within the buccal plastic and/or the
lingual plastic of the dental appliance 286. The wire
284 and/or 276 may enable bending of the dental appliance
282, 286 to widen or constrict a size of the dental
appliance 282, 286 and, in turn, widen or constrict the
dental arch of the user. In another embodiment, the wire
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284 may be positioned within molded tubes 250 shown in
Figure 20.
Figures 25A through 25C illustrate various shell
shapes. Specifically, Figure 25A illustrates a normal
shell shape 288 of a dental appliance. Figure 25B
illustrates a tapered shell shape 289 of a dental
appliance. Figure 25C illustrates a square-type shell
shape 290. The shell shapes 288, 289 and 290 may alter
the shape of a patient's arch to a normal, tapered, or
square arch form, respectively.
Figures 26A and 26B adjustments provided in dental
appliances for anatomic features of incisors for racial
characteristics. For example, Figure 26A illustrates
upper incisors which may be altered on a lingual surface
301 mesially and distally vertically along marginal
ridges of the four upper incisors for Asian users. An
inset 302 may be provided into the lingual of the sockets
301 to accommodate a ridge 306 on the lingual surface 301
of the upper incisors 308, as illustrated in Figure 26B.
An example of negroid teeth 310 is illustrated in Figure
27A. The negroid teeth 310 are more square than either
Asian or Caucasian teeth 312, as illustrated in Figure
27B.
Figure 28 illustrates a. cross-section 315 of a
dental appliance 325. Incisal edges 314 of the incisal
sockets 316 and/or canine sockets 329 of the dental
appliance 315 may be narrowed and thinned to, for
example, a knife-edge thickness 314. As a result, the
incisors of the user may be properly squeezed into the
socket and/or slot 316 of the dental appliance 315,
independent of a thickness labio-lingually of the
incisors. The dental appliance 315 may increase
corrections of rotation and may aid in the correction of
overbite.
Figure 29A illustrates a front section 329 of a U-
shaped dental appliance 150, 170, 190, and 508 Figures
13, 14, 15 and 43D having an occlusal surface (not shown)
with individual sockets 317 or slots for more than one
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tooth (not shown) and where the margins 327 may cover
more of the gingival tissue than demonstrated in known
dental appliances. Figure 29C illustrates a dental
appliance which has margins 339 which cover a small
portion of the gingival tissue. In another embodiment,
illustrated in Figure 29B, canine sockets 329 within the
dental appliance 319 may be shaped wherein the canine
cuspal area 329 comes to a sharp point 318. In an
embodiment, the dental appliance 319 may have an
accentuated distal incisal edge 321 of the upper and/or
lower canines to enhance mesial space closure towards the
midline.
Figure 30 illustrates a top plan view of upper front
teeth 317 and/or lower front teeth (not shown) wherein
sockets 321 may be narrower on a distal side 322 than on
a mesial side 320 to encourage the teeth' to be moved
toward the midline. A mesial side of each tooth may be
wider labio-lingually 320 than a labio-lingual dimension
on the distal side 322 to move teeth toward the center of
the mouth.
Figure 31 illustrates a dental appliance 323 which
may have interproximal ribs 324 at a mesial location 324a
and a distal location 324b of each tooth. The
interproximal ribs may assist in guiding teeth into place
and may correct rotations, crowding and spacing.
A dental appliance 325 is illustrated in Figure 32.
Interproximal ribs at an extraction site 326 of the
dental appliance 325 may be removed to enhance space
closure at the site 326 of the extracted tooth. Space
closure may also be enhanced at the extraction site 326
by having accentuated ribs 328 on either side of the
extraction site 326 with accentuated interproximal ribs.
In an embodiment, the increased ribs 328 for teeth on
either side of the extraction site 326 may be accentuated
to enhance space closure.
Figure 33 illustrates a dental appliance 331 which
may treat users having upper premolar extractions. An
upper first molar area 330 may receive an upper first
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molar and may rotate the molar in a counter-clockwise
direction. As a result, a mesio-buccal cusp may be
rotated mesially to more effectively close an extraction
site 337.
A cross-section of a dental appliance 333 is
illustrated in Figure 34. Projections 332 may descend
downward or inferiorly from a palate behind (lingual to)
the incisors of the user. These projections may prevent
the tongue of the user from coming forward during
swallowing and may correct anterior tongue thrust and
anterior open bites and/or finger or thumb sucking.
Figure 35 illustrates a cross-section of a dental
appliance 335 which may have an accentuated horizontal
labial rib 334 at a gingival margin of one or more front
upper and/or lower teeth 317. The labial rib 334 may
increase lingual movement of a root of an upper and/or
lower front tooth, and/or increase lingual root torque of
upper and/or lower front teeth.
A dental appliance 339 is illustrated in Figure 36.
The dental appliance 339 may have molar sockets 336 which
may be squared in shape to receive any type of molar-
shaped tooth and may help in correction of overbite and
open-bite.
Figure 37 illustrates a cross-section of a dental
appliance 341 which may have an accentuated cingulum area
338 for an upper front tooth. As a result, the dental
appliance 341 may receive all variations in shape and/or
size which may be common in the area 338 for an upper
front tooth.
In an embodiment, any of the dental appliances
illustrated in Figures 13, 14, 15 and 43D may have
material added to the interior of the dental appliance.
The material may be, for example, vinyl, acrylic,
silicone or the like. The additional material may serve
as a reliner to an interior of the dental appliance and
may stabilize movement of the teeth (not shown). The
additional material may also increase retention in
various areas of the mouth of the user.
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In an embodiment, a clearance for the soft tissue
may be varied on a slant 342 of a dental appliance 343,
as illustrated in Figure 39 generally taken along the
line C-C. The increased slant 342 may avoid pushing
against soft tissue of the user. Moreover, the slant 342
may be helpful to user of younger ages as well as a stage
at which adult teeth are not erupted through tissue which
is from the line C-C. This may prevent the margins 43
and/or 45 of the dental appliance 343 from digging into
the soft tissue on users of a younger age and/or at any
age.
In an embodiment, illustrated in Figure 40A, a
dental appliance 352 may have a detachable upper shell
349 and a lower shell 350. In an embodiment, a hinge 344
may attach the upper shell 349 to the lower shell 350 and
may be constructed from, for example, metal, plastic or
other material. The hinge 344 may be attached to the
upper shell 349 and the lower shell 350 at slots 346 at
a rear end 348 of the dental appliance 352. Figure 40B
illustrates the dental appliance 352 wherein the hinge
344 is attached to the upper shell 349 and the lower
shell 350.
In an embodiment, a gingival coverage of the labial
buccal and lingual shields may be lowered to cover only
crowns of the teeth as illustrated in Figure 29C. Figure
29C illustrates the labial shield which may be lowered in
the front area while Figure 29A illustrates the labial
shield elevated to cover a substantial portion of the
gingival tissue.
In an embodiment, the teeth of the user may be
straightened prior to adult collagenous fiber formation.
Moreover, after the teeth are properly guided, fibers may
form to stabilize a correction of the teeth (not shown).
In another embodiment, a dental appliance may
straighten the teeth sufficiently to avoid or reduce
regular orthodontic treatment, such as, for example, the
use of braces at a later stage of treatment (not shown).
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In an embodiment, a dental appliance may correct jaw
relations, such as, for example, a Class I, II and/or III
jaw relation. The dental appliance may advance the
mandible and may encourage the mandible to grow into a
correct position. Further, the dental appliance may
restrict the upper jaw from developing forward (not
shown) and may allow the side teeth to erupt into a
perfect intercuspation, such as that illustrated in
Figure 41A.
In an embodiment, a dental appliance may have
interproximal ribs wherein the interproximal ribs are
removed in certain areas to allow the teeth to slip or
shift mesio-distally into a proper occlusion (not shown).
In another embodiment, a dental appliance may be
constructed having various hardnesses and/or resiliencies
of material (not shown). In an embodiment, the dental
appliance may have a combination of hardness and
resiliency in any area of the dental appliance.
Moreover, the dental appliance may be transparent. In
another embodiment the dental appliance(s) may be molded
in different colors, which may increase the wear of the
appliance by the user.
In an embodiment, a dental appliance may have
sockets or slots for more than one tooth. The dental
appliance may treat any number of deciduous, permanent,
missing, or erupting teeth. In addition, the dental
appliance may treat teeth at various levels or positions
during any time of exfoliation, eruption, chronological
or dental or skeletal age of the user.
In another embodiment, a larger dental appliance may
be placed in the mouth of the user having a smaller-sized
mouth and/or crowded teeth or in anticipation of crowding
at ages less than seven years of age. In another
embodiment, a dental appliance may be placed in the mouth
of the user having larger adult teeth wherein the adult
teeth may erupt to replace smaller deciduous teeth.
Moreover, a larger-sized dental appliance may be placed
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in the mouth of a user having larger teeth to properly
straighten the teeth.
Figure 42A illustrates a dental appliance 400 having
interproximal ribs 401 and/or individual sockets 402 for
certain teeth, such as, for example, the upper and/or
lower incisors. Figure 42B illustrates the dental
appliance 400 in an embodiment wherein individual slots
for teeth may be removed, leaving a single slot 358 for
receiving teeth. The removal of ribs in between any or
all teeth in the dental appliance of Figures 13, 14, 15
and 43D may allow teeth to shift or move mesio-distally
to adjust the intercuspation or occlusion.
In an embodiment, a dental appliance may be molded
in a water-absorbent plastic or other material (not
shown). In another embodiment, the dental appliance may
be molded in part of a non-absorbent material in
combination with an absorbent material to absorb saliva
and/or change color in relation to an amount of time the
dental appliance is kept in the mouth depending on a
percentage of each material being present in the dental
appliance. The dental appliance may also be constructed
from a non-absorbent material wherein the dental
appliance does not change color. A dental appliance that
may be absorbent may absorb, for example, fluoride. The
fluoride may leach out during use of the dental appliance
and may prevent tooth decay (not shown).
All embodiments applied to various appliances
including those of Figures 13, 14, 15 and 43D may or may
not be made in one or more sizes depending on the sizes
and/or shapes of the teeth of users. All may be
dispensed by an automated dispenser with or without a
manual or computerized automated diagnosis, with
digitalized photos, x-rays or the like.
It should be understood that various changes and
modifications to the presently preferred embodiments
described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the
art. Such changes and modifications may be made without
departing from the spirit and scope of the present
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invention and without diminishing its attendant
advantages.
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